Notebook sales to dominate global PC market growth

Mobile PCs appear to be the new driving force of the global PC market. Worldwide PC shipments are currently expected to be 202.1 million units this year, a 10 percent increase from the year before. However, desktop PC shipments are expected to grow just 4.6 percent, whereas mobile PC shipments are expected to make a staggering 26.5 percent increase.

"Mobile PCs are continuing to attract more new users as mobile prices fall and wireless becomes more pervasive," said George Shiffler, principal analyst for Gartner's Client Platforms research. "Growing numbers of users are replacing their old desktops with more portable mobiles, and this is one of several factors helping to boost mobile PC growth."

Somehow, I get the feeling that mobile PCs will go the same way as mobile phones, with prices dropping and everyone everywhere suddenly realising that they need one, and wondering just what the hell they did before they had one.